Cycle Routes
This page contains information about:
- Cycle Route Maps to download
- Sustrans' National Cycle Network: National Routes 12, 57 and 61
- Welwyn-Hatfield's planned development of cycle routes as part of its Urban Transport Plan
Cycle Route Maps
A free set of cycle route maps for Welwyn and Hatfield, the Alban Way, Cole Green Way, Ayot Green Way and Great North Way can be obtained by emailing pedalpoint@welhat.gov.uk
Cycle route maps can be downloaded from the cycling section of the Welwyn Hatfield Borough's website:
www.welhat.gov.uk/transportstreets/walkingcycling/cycling.
Hertfordshire County Council's website has several cycle routes which you can download,
www.hertsdirect.org/envroads/environment/countryside/walkingandriding/walkcyclemaps/
The National Cycle Network
The National Cycle Network is a collection of numbered cycle ways, which are built and managed by Sustrans, www.sustrans.org.uk.
The network is divided into National Routes (red badge) and Regional Routes (blue badge)
There are 3 National Routes in Hertfordshire :
- National Route 12
- National Route 57
- National Route 61
An overview of the three routes in Hertfordshire can be found on the Sustrans website.
If you would like to get involved with Sustrans, visit their Get Involved page.
National Route 12
Welwyn Garden City : north to Letchworth Garden City
Welwyn Garden City : south to Welham Green and Potters Bar
Find out more about Route 12 on the Sustrans website.
The section of the route in Hertfordshire is also known as the Great North Way
(Potters Bar to Letchworth)
To find out more about the Great North Way, visit the official website, at www.greatnorthway.org.uk
National Route 57
The route starts at Welwyn Garden City and continues west to Oxford
Find out more about Route 57 on the Sustrans website.
Sections of National Route 57 are also known as:
- Ayot Green Way
Welwyn Garden City to Wheathampstead - The Nickey Line
Harpenden to Hemel Hampstead
National Route 61
Welwyn Garden City : west to St. Albans
Welwyn Garden City : east to Hertford and Ware
Find out more about Route 61 on the Sustrans website.
Sections of National Route 61 are also known as:
- The Alban Way
Hatfield to St. Albans - The Cole Green Way
Welwyn Garden City to Hertford - Hertford-to-Ware Towpath
Welwyn-Hatfield's Planned Development of Cycle Routes 2010-2011
Cycle route development in Welwyn Hatfield is part of the Urban Transport Plan for each town. Unfortunately Welwyn Hatfield Cycling Forum was set up after the deadline for these plans.
The developement plans fall into 3 categories:
- Scheduled for Completion (by 31 March 2010)
- Planned for Completion (subject to funding)
- Longer term plans
Scheduled for completion March 2010
Scheduled for completion in the financial year ending 31st March 2010 are three routes:
Welwyn Garden City
- Broadwater Road (east side) from Chequers to Hyde Way
This connects the current Hyde Way-Mundells-Bessemer Road path to the WGC-Mill Green- Hatfield-Welham Green path (NCN12 and NCN61). - Stanborough Park (COMPLETED - February 2010)
The missing link between Stanborough Lane and Great North Road round the back of the café complex, along the one way road. This will have a cycle path contra flow northwards.
Hatfield
- Hatfield railway station to Business Park - Phase 1
This project has been split in to two phases.- Phase 1, (DELAYED - expected completion = early June 2010)
from Hatfield station to the west end of French Horn Lane is due by 31 March 2010.
Phase 1 takes the route from the south end of the station car park via the existing subway under the railway and then up French Horn Lane. A large island will aid crossing of the road towards Onslow School. Not included is a link to Old Hatfield via the Batterdale subway as this is too low to be safely used. - For Phase 2 see the section "Planned for completion" below.
- Phase 1, (DELAYED - expected completion = early June 2010)
Planned for completion
The following routes are planned for completion 2010-2011 and are subject to funding.
Hatfield
- Hatfield railway station to the Business Park - Phase 2
This project has been split in to two phases.- For Phase 1 see the "Scheduled for completion March 2010" section above .
- Phase 2
Following WHCF comments about the proposed on-road section at the Queensway roundabout, more planning work is being done on the second phase of this route. We hope an off-road solution can be found and have proposed an alternative route.
Hertfordshire Highways are planning a modified roundabout to a “continental design” (see
www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roads/tpm/tal/cyclefacilities/cyclistsatroundaboutscontine4078
for more details)
When complete the cycle path will continue along the south side of Wellfield Road to Comet Way at the Airfield Pub.
It will connect to the Alban Way (NCN61) on Wellfield Road and the Great North Way (NCN12) on French Horn Lane.
Completion is hoped by 31 March 2011, but this is not guaranteed.
- Hatfield Town Centre to South Hatfield via Woods Avenue and Travellers Lane:
This links to the Great North Way (NCN12) at South Way.
No plans or dates have been announced.
Welwyn Garden City
- Mundells to Black Fan Road:
to enable town centre to Morrison’s cycling.
This may be funded next year and completed by 31 March 2011, but this is not definite. - WGC to Welwyn and Oaklands:
This extends the Bessemer Road path which ends in Digswell north up the Great North Road.
No plans or dates have been announced. - Oaklands to Welwyn North:
A link to the station.
No plans or dates have been announced.
Longer term plans
How many of these long term plans happen will depend largely on decisions by Hertfordshire County Council as they fund transport developments.
Hatfield
- Comet Way to Wellfield Road via Westview:
A short missing link round the roundabout at the Airfield Pub. - Town Centre to Howe Dell Woods:
to link to the Great North Way (NCN12) - Town Centre to Old Rectory Drive:
to link to the Great North Way and to the station. - Dellsome Lane (Welham Green) to Roehyde Way:
This will link Welham Green to the University via the Angerland Common park and ride site and provide a second route from the Hatfield cycle path network south to join the Great North Way (NCN12) in Welham Green. - Travellers Lane to Northdown Road
- Mill Green to QE2 Hospital:
extending the path up Gypsy Lane, bypassing Ascots Lane.
Welwyn Garden City
- Town Centre to
- Knightsfield and then on to Bessemer Road via Digswell Road and also Monks Walk School
- Panshanger
- Sherrardswood Park (Great North Way NCN12)
- Gresley Close (to extend the cycle path which starts behind the Council Offices to the town centre)
- QE2 via Bridge Road East extending via Howlands to the Great North Way.
- Mill Green to Stanborough Road: A link across from Mill Green to Stanborough Park.
- Welwyn to Welwyn North station
- Black Fan Road to Moors Walk
- Stanborough Lakes to Wheathampstead
- Handside Lane to Longcroft Lane